foreveryoung001

Not unlike going to Canada to learn to play hockey, or the coming to the U.S. to learn American football. I have to agree that a lot of the TKD in the states is, as you put it, "watered down", but be careful about lumping everyone into that catagory. There are schools out there that believe in tradition, and work to impart that to their students. There are also schools here in the U.S. that are open all day, and would allow a student to train 8 hours if they wished... I can tell you from experience, it's sometimes hard to get a student to show up for 2 hours twice a week, let alone 8 hours a day. It comes down to the desires of the student. Sounds like you had a great experience over there though. Give us some details about what you enjoyed about your training there, and how it differed from your training in the U.S.

Hey Carnage What style of TKD do you study?

Couldn't agree more. My instructor only charged enough to cover the costs of the certificate and belt (when changing belts), and that is the same tradition I've carried on too. Testing fees have gotten really outrageous. I suppose I could see charging $0.03 for the stripes... hey, tape costs money!!!!

I think "respect for their heritage" is a great way to put it. In America, it seems very PC to forget about the roots of our own country, and our history and heritage is much younger than most. Now, this could start a whole debate about our "roots" but I think I'll leave it at that.

I have to agree with Shane as well, that it varies from school to school. I have noticed though, that the "outsider" feeling has been a little more intense for me with the "McDojo" type clubs that I've had the pleasure of working out with. My theory, with absolutely no proof to back me up, is that with the quick testing, and lack of true Mastery in their art, the students at the "McDojo" have not learned humility to the same degree as some of the other, I'll say More rounded schools that I've visited. It may just be me, but I find it very hard to associate with braggarts, and I find them to be a little more prevalent within the schools that most would label as "McDojo". Just a thought.

No offense taken. A lot of TKD schools have taken a turn towards the sport aspect. If a person disagrees with the sport aspect, then the schools might deserve your critcism. Those that like the sport aspect, might have words with you though. I just wanted to make sure that you understood that not ALL tkd schools fall into that mold. You may not be able to find any in your area, but there are some out there do teach their history very well. My Assoc., for example, has taught it's history, and Korean MA history very well. I have had problems getting past the Korean leaning of that history, and they have stayed away from much having to do with Japnese MAs, and very little to do with Chinese MAs, so that is something I've had to study on my own. I lost the whole point I was trying to make. Don't know where it went. It was here a second ago....... Oh well, I know if you research it well, you will find a good art to compliment what you already know. Best of Luck!

As a traditional "guy" I don't take offense to this at all. It all comes down to the same old debate, what style is better? There is no clear cut answer. It comes down to many different things, including a students desire to learn, and an instructors ability to teach. An instructor that has the background, and ability to teach several different styles, but has no eager students, is worse off than an instructor of only one MA, with no ability to teach, but has several eager students who will do whatever it take to learn anything they can. Grappling, striking, boxing, throwing... they are all good and can serve a purpose, but no matter what label you put on the art... Mixed, traditional, super whammy deluxe (my personal favorite), it still comes down to eager students, and good instructors. That's just MHO

Who told you about the 540 jump wheel kick? That was supposed to be a secret. I have only been close to actually using my MAs twice, but both times I was able to walk away from the situation without throwing or taking a punch. I credit my training to being able to handle the situations the way I did. I may not have had to strike someone, but I was more confident than I would otherwise have been without my training. Without the confidence in myself and my abilities, I may actually have tried to throw the first the punch, or they may have seen something in my body language that would have made them more likely to throw the first punch. Either way, I still credit my training and my art for helping me avoid those confrontations. Now I must go and practice my 540 jump wheel kick.

Agreed!

I can't speak for others, but I can speak for the effectiveness. I was not a Christian until my instructor gave his testimony during class one night. It took a long time for it to sink in, but even to this day, some 15 years later, I still remember that night and how I learned that Jesus was very real. I have seen and been involved with my Grand Master's demonstrations where he draws in large audiences, wows them with a great demo, and then gives all the glory to God. I have seen several people dedicate their lives to Christ at those events. I have seen youngsters, who would most likely have gotten involved with gangs, drugs, or who-knows-what, given a new passion and they were able to learn commitment and discipline from a Christian brother or sister who would otherwise not have had any impact on their lives. I know with some of the CTU programs, bible study, prayer, and ministry is a part of the class. Bible learning is a requisite for testing, and the program themselves have drawn kids into the church who might not otherwise have had any interest. These are just some of the ways I have seen it work. Some others who are currently involved with a Christian MA ministry might have some more insight for too.

Hence the problems with a lot of the belief systems, not only Christian. The yin/yang symbol may have derived from philosophies which are not congruent with fundamental Christian beliefs, yet at this point, with that symbol, it was not representing a philosophical bend, nor a religious statement, it was a show of pride and support for his MA school. There are many people out there pointing fingers today, Christians included. In my town, the high school mascot is a "Blue Devil". I can recall several churches in the area trying to fight that at one time. "Why would we want our kids to wear a picture of the devil on their clothes?" This misses the whole point of Christianity in IMHO. In this country, the U.S., Christians are caught up in political debates, issues that divide the country, and silly causes like trying to change a school mascot. Most Christians, forgetting the whole purpose of being Christian, to spread the love of Christ. Now, I am against the issues that the news says Christian groups are against. I do not believe abortion is right. However, to go to an abortion clinic and shout nasty things at the scared young ladies that would be their clients is not going to do one thing to spread the gospel. It will only divide our country more. Would I vote for an amendment to ban same sex marriage? Yes I would, but how is pointing my finger at someone and telling them that they are going to hell going to show them the love of Christ? The same with the Martial Arts. I saw one post that was quite derogatory on insisting that Christians should spend their time praying and reading the bible. I couldn't agree more. I don't spend enough time with God's word, yet there is an important passage where even the apostle Paul says that physical exercise is good for the body. The bible also tells us that whatever our hands find to do, to do it with all of our might. This is an interesting question and debate, yet the question a Christian should ask themselves is, is my Martial Art helping me show the love of Christ? If we are mentoring young children, helping persuade them to work in a MA rather than getting into drugs... if our own children have learned commitment and discipline because they got involved when they saw their parents get involved... If just one classmate asks why you truly care about people, and that gives you an opportunity to share God's word...Isn't it worth it? Even if we have a Yin/Yang symbol on our school logo?

DD, depending on how hard you've been stretching, you might have pulled or agrivated a muscle. Try alternating heat and cold, and use an anti-inflamatory, like Advil. Don't push yourself to hard for a few days and see if that doesn't help. As for stretching into the splits, I've heard different thoughts on the subject. for me personally it took a long long time to get anywhere close, but getting into a full split isn't as important to me as just maintaining an overall flexability.

Through the organization I am affiliated with, The USCDKA, they have a program called the Christian Taekwondo University. It was specifically designed to use Tak Kwon Do as an evangelism tool. The roots of the USCDKA are very Christian, but the CTU was designed to used specifically in churches. I have quite seriously been considering begining a club such as that within my church, but have done nothing to pursue it at this time. There are quite a few CTU clubs up and running across the country, and the folks that run them might be able to give you some insight. I've found a bunch using google and just searching for Christian Tae Kwon Do University.

Okay, I'm going to go against everyone. I say DON'T breath! Hold your breath for the entire day. Not one breath. I have no idea if it work, but just think... Your blueish/purpleish color by the time you test, may really have a nice contrast with a standard white gi. I'm telling ya, it's all about fashion! Seriously though, you'll do fine. Relaxe and have fun!

Yeah, but in Canada you've got many many more hunting "accidents"... if you know what I mean.

Before you judge to harshly.... I have been involved with the same TKD organization for most of my training. There is a certain contingent of students that have an olympic dream, but most of us preffer the learn the same art that was taught to our Grand Master, which he began training in around 1961 in Korea. He has carried on with the traditions and customs that were apporpriate for an American TKD school, and does have some students who he helps with the sports side of the art, but please don't lump all TKD into that "Flashy/Sporty" catagory. There are some of us who enjoy it for the same reasons that others enjoy their MAs. I am really NOT trying to convince you try TKD, but I am only encouraging you to keep an open mind about the art as a whole. I will agree that it can be very sports oriented, but there are a few of us who will never see the inside of a ring besides the few local karate tournys.

I've never experienced it, but from reading this forum, it sure sound like MT is pretty intense.

The one time I tried to wash a belt, many moons ago, I actually had the cotton stitching shrink, and pull away from the material. The whole thing fell apart within two weeks after that wash. Now this was back in the mid-80's, and it was the white belt that came with the uniform, so I can't vouch for quality, plus, they may be using nylon stitchimg now which would hold up better... I haven't examined one that closly since then, and I was tought after that, washing your belt is frowned upon in my style. Now I have worked out with people that do wash their belts, and they don't have a problem, so I guess it must have been my washing technique. As for bleeding colors, I only ever had a problem with my red belt, and it sounds similar to those already explained. A good detergent for the uniform always took care of it though.

Best of luck! Let us know how things go.

I have not been formally teaching long enough to have any students at that level. I can tell you that three of us, from instructors original class stayed around long enough to take our 1st dan test. Two of us made it the first time, the thrid person had to test again, but we all eventually got there. Only one of us ( not me) persued anything further. I quit training not long after my test due to several different reasons, but I don't know how I fit into the statistics because I have been back training again for quite a while, and have now have a few students of my own, but for all intensive purposes, I had quit and didn't intend to continue until my children decided to get involved. That rekindled the fire.

Well, it started out as a white belt until mom did the wash... Actually,we used to use a pink belt as warning/punishment for students who started fights. The would get one warning, a night wearing the pink belt and lining up behind, even the white belts, and if they did it again, then they were asked to leave the school. I only saw one person ever wear the pink belt.

Sure do

Welcome Missy!

Welcome back Dan, Let us know how your search is progressing. Good Luck!